Hayes & Yeading made the trip to the Kent coast on Saturday to face Margate and came home with all three points courtesy of a debut strike from central defender Sean Cronin just after the start of the second half.

United started well and had the ball in the net after just five minutes only to be denied by a raised assistant’s flag. Max Worsfold did well on the left by beating both David Hunt and Kane Wills before cutting the ball back to Elliot Benyon, his shot on the turn was pushed out by Chris Lewington before the ball was played back in to the striker by Shepherd Murombedzi, Benyon netted only to be ruled offside.

Margate’s first look at goal came a few minutes later when Hunt lofted the ball in to the United area, Matthew Johnson won the header but from 12 yards it provided an easy catch for James Hamon in the United goal.

A short corner to Worsfold led to United’s next opening as his centre was met at the far post by Sean Cronin who could only get enough angle on his header to ripple the side netting of Lewington’s goal. Chances still came from United who were certainly holding the majority of possession, Luke Williams had a shot headed away from inside the six yard box before the ball was worked back to Lodge who saw his shot go just wide of the far post.

Around the half hour mark the home side gave United a bit of a scare when the ball was worked to Nathan Green on the left corner of the box, his low drive going across the face of Hamon’s goal and wide of the far post. Then, in a rare foray into the United box, the home side were awarded a penalty when Greg Cundle helped the ball on to former United loanee Freddie Ladapo who was adjudged to have been felled by Darren Purse’s tackle. Ladapo himself stepped up to take the kick and despite appearing to take two touches on the ball, he found the net and the referee ignored United’s vehement protests.

The ‘Gate, buoyed by taking the lead had their best spell of possession for the next few minutes, Ladapo again going close after appearing to control the ball with his arm, his angled shot going over the top.

United deservedly drew level in the 40th minute when Green jumped all over Benyon inside the area and once again the referee pointed to the spot. Benyon himself took charge from 12 yards, sending Lewington the wrong way for his 13th of the season.

Less than a minute later Margate had the ball in the net once more however Ladapo was ruled to have controlled the ball with his hand before firing past Hamon and the “goal” was rightly chalked off.

United got the perfect start to the second half, Sean Cronin finding the net in the 48th minute. Murombedzi did well to earn a corner on the right, Cronin did well out manoeuvre former United man Charlie Wassmer in the box before meeting Worsfold’s kick to score from six yards.

The hosts created an opening in the 53rd minute, working the ball to Danny Green, his shot being inadvertently blocked eight yards out by his own defender Jake Goodman’s unmentionables, allowing United to clear their lines.

United could have moved further ahead in the 57th minute, Cronin’s direct ball out of defence found Benyon and when Goodman slipped the United man was through on goal only to be thwarted by an excellent one handed save by Lewington with Wassmer hacking the ball clear.

With the visitors going for the long ball route, a partial clearance to Luke Moore saw him volley low but straight at Hamon, who gathered comfortably and even when they switched to playing the ball on the ground, the United defence and hard-working midfield gave them very little in the way of chances.

In fact despite the home side having a lot of possession as we entered the final quarter of the game, it was United who had a great chance to add to their tally. A ball out from defence finding Benyon, he advanced in to the ‘Gate area and appeared to have his ankles nibbled by Goodman and lost his balance before getting a shot off from a tight angel that struck the side netting. Benyon then fired wide from the edge of the box after intercepting a Wassmer back-heel inside his own area.

As the game entered the last ten minutes a sweeping move from the home side involving Wills and Hunt on the right ended with an excellent low centre from Hunt being well defended at the near post by Purse who slid in to block away the slightest of touches from Luke Moore.

Six minutes from time controversy reined again as having been off injured, the referee signalled for Purse to return only to stop him and caution him for coming on effectively “with” permission. To make matters worse, he then awarded Margate an indirect free-kick on the corner of the United six yard box for said offence when I believe the rulebook states that the free-kick should have been taken from where the ball was at the time play was stopped. Not where he came back on! Thankfully this seemingly double error by the official did not cost United as excellent defending at the near post blocked Johnson’s effort away.

A minute later a Wassmer centre was flicked inches wide by Brett Johnson who was soon to see red, Murombedzi raced away down the right only to be unceremoniously brought down by what the referee deemed to be a high tackle from the Margate substitute who was shown a straight red card.

United took control of the game for the final couple of minutes and took a most welcome and vital three points back home to Middlesex.

Report by Kevin Watts.

United Man of the Match: Sean Cronin.

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